National Football Post Diner News

15 Dec 2008

QUOTE:  “Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future." ~ Peter Drucker

RANDOM GAME THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS...

1.     The Cowboys just have a unique way of dealing with distractions and finding ways to win.  Their ability to play with their backs to the wall is admirable. 

2.     The past two weeks, the Giants have not been able to convert third downs with any consistency.  It has been a breakdown in every area. Their quarterback struggles to throw a spiral and their receivers struggle to catch. Last night, their offensive line broke down. 

3.     To me, it looked like a touchdown in the Baltimore game.  Once the ball breaks the plane of the goal line, it’s a touchdown. NBC did a great job showing it during their replay show. 

4.     The Steelers are getting better in their offensive line. I have mentioned that I thought it might be their Achilles heel, but they seem to be overcoming it and improving. 

5.     The Steelers now believe there isn’t an obstacle they can’t overcome in the fourth period.  This team knows how to win and expects to win in the fourth. 

6.     Willis McGahee’s poor effort in pass protection cost the Ravens at least an attempt at a field goal late in the game.  He can wonder why he’s not the main man running the ball, but all he has to do is look at this play.  Cannot protect, cannot get on the field. 

7.     Big Ben’s ability to make plays in the passing game was the difference for the Steelers.  The team that made pass plays was going to win, and yesterday it was the Steelers. 

8.     I love how the Steelers went after Baltimore corner Frank Walker when starter Fabian Washington was injured and left the game.  That’s what good teams do -- attack personnel, not just the scheme. 

9.     When Reggie Bush was out with an injury for four weeks, the Saints averaged 34.5 points per game and 428 yards of offense.  Since his return, they are averaging 24.3 points and 363 yards.   What’s clear to me is that the Saints cannot build their offense around Bush; he is just a luxury item. 

10.  To me, the Saints and the Texans are the same team. Both can score at will, but both struggle to play on the road and lack a physical element to their team. 

11.  Atlanta beat the Bucs in spite of committing three turnovers and having a punt blocked.  Winning after making those significant mistakes is very rare. 

12.  Matt Ryan played his worst game, and it was a good thing the Falcons found success running the ball against a nickel group.  The Bucs’ run defense when they had their nickel unit on the field was very poor. 

13.  The Bucs are going to struggle throwing the ball with Jeremy Trueblood at right tackle.  He struggled to protect all day.  John Abraham rushing the passer and nickel runs won the game for the Falcons. 

14.  Best email of the day yesterday came from Ray Gustini, who nicknamed the Washington Redskins’ front office “Team Freddo” after Freddo Corleone of “The Godfather.” 

15.  The Skins let former Bear Cedric Benson have the best day of his career running and receiving.  When the Skins cannot make big plays, they cannot score.  The Lions have scored 240 points this season, the Skins 231. 

16.  Time of possession and yards are not what determine the outcome of most games, but rather how you play defense in the red zone.   The Dolphins yesterday were sensational in the red area. 

17.  I don’t agree with 49ers Coach Mike Singletary, who said, “"Obviously, they wanted it more than we did." His team played hard, it played tough and it wanted to win. It just did not make plays in the RZ. 

18.  Dominique Zeigler of the 49ers, who returned punts because of an injury to Allen Rossum, killed his team with bad decision-making and forced them to play on a long field.  His poor play is not on the stat sheet, but it was a major factor. 

19.  It’s tough to win in the NFL. The Jets won yesterday but have to be a little nervous about their team right now.  It is not whom you play at this time of the year but how you play, and the Jets are not playing well on defense. 

20.  When the clock is under 2:07, running or passing the ball is insignificant in terms of play call.  Therefore, when the Bills called a pass, in theory it was not necessarily the wrong call. But in reality, putting the ball in J.P. Losman’s hands was a disaster. 

21.  Can someone tell the Cardinals they need to play well entering the playoffs?  Talk about a team not being able to handle success.   They made Tarvaris Jackson look like Joe Montana yesterday. 

22.  To me, the Cards and the Broncos are the same team.  Both will make the playoffs and both might win a playoff game, but both are very bad on defense and could lose to anyone at any time. 

23.  On the second to last drive of the fourth quarter, Herm “Let's Build Something Together” Edwards called two timeouts that were unnecessary, which cost the Chiefs when they finally got the ball back.  Game management and Herm never seem to go smoothly.

24.  The Chargers’ playoff hopes hinge on the Bills winning in Denver and them beating the Bucs in Tampa.  That does not seem likely to me right now. 

25.  I think Jim Zorn and Dick Jauron hurt their chances of coming back next year with their coaching performances yesterday.  

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